High the vanes of Shrewsbury gleam Islanded in Severn stream; The bridges from the steepled crest Cross the water east and west. A.E. Houseman, A Shropshire Lad Mr Houseman was right. One of the first things you notice when you step off the train is that the churches of Shrewsbury are a defining feature of…
church crawling
The 10 Commandments of Church Crawling
Hopefully one good thing to come out of the recent tragedy at Notre Dame is an increased appreciation of the built heritage we have in this country. Perhaps you’ve already decided you want to learn more about the often-overlooked places of worship in your community? The ones you pass everyday? But where do you start?…
Exploring Herefordshire with Churches of The Marches
My name is Claire and I am a church crawler. Yes, I know that may sound a bit dodgy but let me explain. A church crawler is a person who is interested in ecclesiology and church architecture and history. We spend many hours travelling up and down the country to visit churches – just because…
A History Travel Guide to York
Earlier this year I made the decision to go – by myself – to the BBC History Weekend in York. I cannot stress how far outside my comfort zone this was. I made the decision to travel halfway across the country by myself and really put myself out there in terms of meeting history friends…
Appleby – Horses and History
When I say Appleby, most people will automatically think of the famous horse fair that is held in the town the first week of every June. However, there is another side to Appleby – an historic one. There was been a settlement near the current town since the 9th Century, when Vikings first arrived in…
My Top 8 Welsh Churches
Wales is a country full of chapels and churches. Our places of worship are often sited in wild, remote, sacred and utterly beautiful landscapes, much like their Celtic Christian ancestors. Throughout my study of Welsh History at university, it became clear to me that this ‘remoteness’ and being on the periphery of England has resulted in Wales maintaining…
Pristine Presteigne
Picture the scene – pink roses rambling around the cottage door, local residents on the way to church, timber framed shops lining once-medieval streets. Sounds like the picture postcard perfect English town scene doesn’t it? Only this town is in Wales. Welcome to Presteigne. Presteigne is in modern-day Powys, but literally straddles the England – Wales…
The Church With The Hidden Treasure – St Anno’s Church, Llananno
If you live in Wales, there is a good chance you have passed this treasure chest of a church and not even realised. On the A483 between Llandrindod Wells and Newtown the small church of Llananno sits in isolation, hidden in a small dip of the valley next to the River Ithon. It has almost been…
The Crooked Church – St Martin’s Church, Cwmyoy
If you go down to the Black Mountains today, you’re in for a big surprise. Most people will head straight for either imposing Llanthony Priory in its picturesque setting, or the nearby Church of St Issui at Partishow with its famous wall paintings. However, there is a hidden treasure of a church that tops them all…
St Stephen’s Church, Old Radnor
When I started this blog, I promised myself I wouldn’t overload it with pictures of all the churches I like to visit. Then I chanced upon St Stephen’s Church, Old Radnor, and immediately broke the promise I made to myself ! But trust me, this church is something really special. History It is very likely the…